Don’t get Vic Morris wrong: He’s happy to get a win against Lincoln, but that doesn’t mean he believes that Cardozo is the best team in the PSAL.

“I know next time will be different,” said Morris, who led the Judges with 28 points in their 82-77 win over Lincoln yesterday in the Big Apple Holiday Invitational at the Gauchos Gym in The Bronx. “Next time they will be better.”

That’s putting it mildly, as the Railsplitters once again were without their star point guard, Sebastian Telfair, who’s recovering from an injured right ankle. Lincoln staged a late comeback, cutting what had been a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit to three with 1:31 to go, but missed its last six free throws.

Still, everyone watching – even the Judges – knew the game would likely have had a different outcome had Lincoln’s Louisville-bound guard felt well enough to play.

“We proved that we could beat them without him,” said Nick Flagg, who added 21 points. “But we’re going to have to beat them again with him out there.”

Even with Telfair’s absence, it wasn’t easy. The Judges (11-1) appeared to have the game well in-hand in the fourth quarter, led by the strong guard play of Morris and Flagg. But Lincoln (8-3) staged a 12-0 run, helped by Jamel Jackson (22 points), Eugene Lawrence (22 points) and Tony Pena (15).

The rally did not come as a surprise to Cardozo.

“They’re Lincoln,” said Skyler Khaleel. “They’re the defending state champs. They’re not just going to let us win.”

Khaleel’s block of a Pena shot with 51 seconds to go helped preserve the three-point lead and Morris followed with a pair of free throws to give the Judges, who on Saturday were handed their first defeat by Wheeler (Ga.), some breathing room.

Khaleel’s play notwithstanding, it was the solid play of the guards that won Cardozo the game.

* Grady had a 62-56 win over Boys & Girls yesterday at the Gauchos Gym, while Banneker scored the final 10 points of the game to give the Warriors a 43-33 win over Bonner, Pa.